what happens when private emails are posted online?

this has probably happened to other people.

umpteen years ago (late '90s) i was on a private email list about music. i didn't post much, and what i did post isn't horribly revealing or embarrassing, but it's just juvenile enough that i don't want everyone (future employers, etc.) to read it. however, some website has taken to posting the full archives of this list online. i emailed the website and have -- after several months-- received no response. the web site has no info that turns on a "whois" search so i haven't the foggiest idea who's behind it. but they have posed people's private emails--complete with full names, email addresses, and so on--for the whole world to read, and this doesn't seem right to me.

so -- HAS this happened to other people? what in hell can you do about it?

this happened to me. i've emailed them at least five times and got one response ("why?") and no action. this was a couple years ago. i gave up and resolved not to think about it. until today. ha, maybe it was the same list.